Latest Updates from Electric Vehicles

While on the face of it, electric cars look like a great green option, if one considers the entire lifecyle of the electric car - starting from the way batteries are manufactured - the whole thing might not look so green after all, or at least not as green as it looked earlier. Any idea on how the lifecycle sustainability accounting / green accounting for electric cars compare to that for traditional cars?

in Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars

I am proposing a new solution to the algae biofuel industry. Using electrical stimulation, I have created biodiesel from algae for $0.96/gallon. Come view this presentation of my project

in Biomass Power Production Biobutanol Biodiesel Algae Fuels Biomass to Liquid Batteries Biodiversity Agri Waste Management Anaerobic Digestion of Waste Bioremediation Batteries for Electric Vehicles Biopolymers and Bioplastics Biotechnology Biomimicry

ATC Solar Curve Bus Stop concept is being developed by Studio Mango for the city Noord-Brabant, Netherlands, which would allow inductive charging technology at existing bus stops, which will enable electric buses to recharge each time they stop to pick up passengers.

The concept calls for installation of 15.5 meters of solar panels on top of a bus stop’s roof, which would convert sunlight to solar power throughout the day. The curved roof would be sufficiently tilted down to enable wireless energy transfer to buses using inductive charging, which employs the use of an electromagnetic field to transfer energy.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/transportation/wireless-solar-charging-for-electric-buses/1422

in Solar PV Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars Buses and Cleantech

Tesla has unveiled the Tesla Model X, the CUV prototype version of the Model S. The Model X can go from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, features all-wheel drive, is heavier than the Model S and therefore, will offer 10% less range than the S for the same 60 and 85 kWh battery packs. The price will be similar to the S, beginning around $ 50,000 after tax credits, and going up to $ 90,000 with the largest battery packs and other features.

The batteries are housed in a low skateboard, similar to S, which leaves a lot of space. The CUV doesn’t need a combustion engine and so there are two trunks, one in the front and one in the rear, allowing 7 people and a lot of luggage on-board. The much-hyped “falcon-wing” doors are similar to the gull-wing vehicles, but with a bend in the middle which allows them to be opened in tight spaces while offering better access to the rear and third row of seats.

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These gasoline vehicles score well in their class. They all have automatic transmissions and are widely available.

in Sustainable Cities Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars

These vehicles score the lowest in greenercars.org's ratings this year.

in Sustainable Cities Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars

These vehicles score the highest in greenercars.org's ratings this year.

in Sustainable Cities Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars

Ultracapacitors: Best Option for EV Energy Storage Technology - Electric vehicles (EVs) are having their time in the spotlight with several models from makers such as General Motors, Tesla and Nissan on the market today and more to come in the future.

The growing demand for EVs is spurring the automotive industry’s search for sophisticated components to extend the longevity of these vehicles while simultaneously improving their performance capabilities. Research and advancements in efficient components over the last several years has led to a hybrid energy storage system consisting of an ultracapacitor and battery pairing. This pairing increases energy and improves the power density of the hybrid supply, which allows the battery to operate without large current spikes that would normally occur when using just a battery. When the battery can operate without current spikes, it has a longer, more effective life. The hybrid system reduces the cycling of the battery under heavy load conditions, in turn extending the life of the hybrid supply and providing a more efficient energy supply.

Ultracapacitors store energy electrostatically, whereas batteries produce energy via a chemical reaction. For automotive manufacturers, this difference means an economical, versatile power delivery technology more beneficial than batteries. Coupled with batteries in a hybrid system, ultracapacitors improve the range and performance of trucks, passenger and delivery vehicles.

http://www.eetimes.com/design/smart-energy-design/4235856/Ultracapacitors--Best-Option-for-EV-Energy-Storage-Technology

in Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars

How many kilometers can a typical electric car go on 1 kWh of electrical energy?

in Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars

What are the maximum speeds that electric cars can reach? Are they as high as the best that oil driven cars could reach?

in Electric, Hybrid and Plug in Hybrid Electric Cars